Auditors and investors in Southeast Asia are pushing back against an accounting standard used to value farm animals, crops and other agricultural produce that they fear will make profits more volatile and raise the risk of corporate skulduggery.

Block, who has in recent months targeted Singapore commodity trader Olam International, is turning his focus to Standard Chartered after Olam became more responsive to investors and won increased backing from Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek.

Muddy Waters, whose analyst reports triggered US$7 billion in losses for mainland Chinese stocks, used an unlikely secret weapon for its research: the public website of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Olam International, the commodity trader that Muddy Waters LLC said is in danger of failing, said banks hired to help sell US$1.25 billion in bonds and warrants didn’t raise concerns about its credit position in discussions with shareholder Temasek Holdings.

Olam International, whose shares have fallen 9.5 per cent since short seller Carson Block said it might fail, has sued him for defamation. He responded with a 133-page report that called the commodity trader an emperor with no clothes.

Singapore commodities trader Olam International took its battle with short-seller Muddy Waters to a Singapore court on Wednesday as it fought off criticisms of its accounting practices and debt levels that have battered its share and bond prices.

Singapore commodities trader Olam International Ltd defended its accounting practices after attacks by short-seller Muddy Waters which media reports said questioned the way it keeps its books, sending its U.S.-listed shares tumbling.

A group of 61 Chinese entrepreneurs and executives have signed an open letter accusing Citron Research and other short-sellers of manipulating information and misleading investors in reports about Chinese companies.

The Hong Kong equities market got a boost on Thursday from the news that the Greek parliament had voted in an austerity package, which eased fears of a default in that country and an ensuing markets contagion.

Back in the 1930s, when jazz 78s were shipped within or from the US, blues discs were often packed around them to insulate them from damage. In some ways, not much has changed. Reissues of classic blues on CD have generally been treated much more casually than those of their jazz cousins.